Chill hours in New Zealand
Ten-season averages for 12 locations in New Zealand, from NASA POWER hourly temperatures. 2 of them have a full page with the season-by-season table and the fruit trees and berries that suit them.
Where fruit grows in New Zealand
Hawke's Bay on the North Island and Central Otago in the South Island are the two districts that carry most of New Zealand's pipfruit and summerfruit. Central Otago is continental and cold for its latitude, Hawke's Bay is maritime and milder, and the gap between them is wide enough to change which stonefruit varieties are worth planting.
Across these locations the ten-season average runs from 39 chill hours at Auckland, Auckland, to 1893 at Cromwell, Otago. 45°F Hours and Utah are counted over 1 May – 31 August.
Locations
| Location | Region | 45°F Hours | Utah units | Chill portions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra | Otago | 1893 | 1463 | 141.7 |
| Auckland | Auckland | 39 | 469 | 55.4 |
| Blenheim | Marlborough | 1415 | 2240 | 137.7 |
| Christchurch | Canterbury | 1414 | 2121 | 129.2 |
| Cromwell | Otago | 1893 | 1463 | 141.7 |
| Gisborne | Gisborne | 324 | 1300 | 92.8 |
| Hastings | Hawke's Bay Region | 333 | 1389 | 95.1 |
| Havelock North | Hawke's Bay Region | 333 | 1389 | 95.1 |
| Motueka | Tasman District | 284 | 1517 | 103.9 |
| Napier | Hawke's Bay Region | 333 | 1389 | 95.1 |
| Nelson | Nelson Region | 1668 | 2289 | 141.4 |
| Wellington | Wellington Region | 46 | 1288 | 99.3 |
Other countries
All chill-hour locations, including a calculator for any point.
Track this season in ChillCast
ChillCast tracks this season's chill for any location in New Zealand on your iPhone.
Generated
This page was generated on 2026-09-06.
About this data
Values are NASA POWER regional estimates (about 0.5° grid), not orchard measurements. Check your local extension service for station data.
Source: NASA POWER hourly 2-metre air temperature (MERRA-2). NASA does not endorse ChillCast.